No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the author.
The Impact of IT convergence on development in the Asia- Pacific region
Abstract
Emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region are experiencing dramatic and accelerating changes in patterns of ownership and investment in their telecommunications sectors, as well as in convergence. This paper will highlight the significant dependence of emerging economies of the region on convergence of ICT and how these technologies create new networks. Evidence will be cited from China, the Asian Dragons and the near NIEs like Malaysia and Indonesia, to show how they have created one of the largest markets in the world for telecoms equipment and services. The Southeast Asian countries with their open economies and export oriented investment technologies have proved that such policies have generated trade surpluses and long-term growth despite their current financial crises. They still plan to continue ascribing priority in their investment patterns to converging ICT.
... A integração de sistemas assim como a convergência tecnológica, vem aumentando cada vez mais as possibilidades de novos usos e diversificação no mercado de telecomunicações (HOBDAY; DAVIES; PRENCIPE, 2005;SHIN, 2009;DUYSTERS;HAGEDOORN, 1998). Como o mercado tecnológico vem buscando cada vez mais ampliar suas aplicações com produtos multiusos (Bundled Products), o que antes era um simples serviço de telefonia, hoje vem integrado com internet, televisão e outros simultaneamente (ARRUDA FILHO; CASSIA; MARINO, 2008;JUSSAWALLA, 1999;DANAHER;HARDIE;PUT-SIS JR., 2001;FUNK, 2004;HARRIS;BLAIR, 2006;KIM;LEE;KOH, 2005;MUKHERJEE;HOYER, 2001;NUNES;WILSON;KAMBIL, 2000;VRDOLJAK;VRDOLJAK;SKUGOR, 2000). ...
... Seguindo a literatura de marketing, verifica-se que a comunicação é um fator primordial para o desenvolvimento econômico e riqueza interna de uma sociedade industrializada (BRUSH; REXHA, 2007). Como a comunicação também está ligada aos processos tecnológicos que garantem a melhor eficiência e rapidez no desenvolvimento, propõe-se que: Avaliando o tráfego e seu comportamento de desenvolvimento no mercado, verifica-se que a internacionalização é um fator de crescimento do mercado interno, seja ele pela distribuição de produtos para novos países (COOPER; NEU; LEHMAN, 2003), seja pela distribuição e compartilhamento de conhecimento (Know-how) direto e indireto (DAVIES; HARDT; KELLY, 2004;GIO-KAS;PENTZAROPOULOS, 2008;ITU, 2007;JUSSAWALLA, 1999;NUMME-LA;SAARENKETO;PUUMALAINEN, 2004). Assim, propõe-se que: ...
The development of the communications sector of a given country is related to the economic development of that country, and it is possible to demonstrate this connection statistically, as has been shown by research institutions such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). As this data is shown only in simple numerical form, and do not take into account interlinking factors, it is important to carry out research which evaluates the connection between relevant variables in the field. This work aims to analyze the factors of technological development which best describe the economic positioning of a country, connecting the usability of communication services with economic status. Data from 56 countries, chosen at random, were used. A datamining survey was carried out, which analyzed data already collected by institutions such as ITU, World Bank, etc. Each factor of usability, preference, and service analyzed is understood as a reflection of other services already developed, as some studies of the literature on this topic (ARRUDA FILHO; CASSIA; MARINO, 2008; CHERRY, 2007; DAVIES; HARDT; KELLY, 2004) argue that economic development of certain countries exists as a result of an increase in technological development, whereas others argue exactly the opposite. This paper presents these relationships in certain countries, chosen by the quantity of information available regarding their global development position, directly relating economic growth to communication technologies usage, such as telephone or internet. The paper collected data from two world sources from the mentioned sectors: International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and World Bank. Statistical techniques of linear regression and variance analysis were used for studying the data of 56 countries. It followed that the economic growth is directly related to the communication market growth, being the communication products factors of influence for the economic development.
... However, the convergence of policies and technologies as envisioned in the Communication Convergence Bill, 2000 cannot be achieved through gradual regulatory initiatives. Jussawalla (1999) demonstrated how ICT technological convergence was exploited by the Asia-Pacific countries (China, Malaysia, and Indonesia) to create one of the largest telecom services and equipment markets in the world. They adopted export friendly technologies, open economies, and export oriented investment to generate trade surpluses and chart out long-run growth trajectories. ...
The study presents an account of ICT policy convergence in India. It
emphasises the increasing importance of policy convergence in facilitating
technology-led growth. The study aims to unravel how the ICT policy
convergence has fared, especially in wake of the ICT convergence in India.
While the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India regulates telecom and a few
aspects of the broadcasting sector, the IT sector largely remains unregulated.
The ICT policy convergence has taken a back seat and continues to exist in
India largely in a label form. The study adopts a qualitative case study and uses
the policy process perspective as a conceptual framework. The time taken for
the ICT policy reforms to catch up with technological changes is considerably
long. The ICT convergence may help better understand various challenges,
conflicts, and policy gaps and for synergising efforts made to address them.
Keywords: information communication technology; ICT; policy convergence;
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India; TRAI; policy process; regulatory
governance; India.
... The impact of information and communication technologies on the economic growth and development was examined in several studies. These studies were performed in Taiwan (Wang, 1999) and China (Meng, Li, 2002) by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Colecchia, Schreyer, 2002), and even in Great Britain (Dolton, Makepeace, 2004) or Asia (Jussawalla, 1999). ...
Upheaval of economics competitiveness is the most important task of any state.
One of determinant role belongs to economic policy.
Georgia must have priorities not only in traditional fields but also in high quality, high-tech
and high productive spheres as well. Only in this way is possible increase of competitive long-term,
irreversible growth, boosting of revenues and salaries and improvement of population living
conditions. We may name, for example, manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, telecommunication
devices, gadgets and instalments.
While the last period in a whole world has been especially boosted demands for preparations
of plant origin. Accordingly has been increased demands for medicinal plants. The medicinal plants
which plays one of the most important part in pharmacological research industry and in creation of
medicinal preparations, at present are widely spread. Natural preparations represent significant part
in a whole medicinal trade capacity. Georgia’s flora is rich with medicinal plants from ancient
times. Georgia has ability to occupy honourable part in manufacturing-realization of medicinal
plants in the international market. The state should promote production of ecologically pure
preparations and drawing of investors with care in this field.
Creation of competitive status of Georgia in a world market is highly depended upon
competitive fields of the service sphere like hotels and restaurant businesses and insurance.
One of the priorities of Georgia is its transit functions which together with natural-climatic
conditions, intellectual recourses and other factors should provide business development in the state
and upgrade of economics competitiveness.
... The impact of information and communication technologies on the economic growth and development was examined in several studies. These studies were performed in Taiwan (Wang, 1999) and China (Meng, Li, 2002) by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Colecchia, Schreyer, 2002), and even in Great Britain (Dolton, Makepeace, 2004) or Asia (Jussawalla, 1999). ...
... Mobile phone (MP) technologies have become an important tool in facilitating markets' access thus promoting social and economic development (Jussawalla 1999;Scott et al. 2004Mobile phones have been instrumental in Africa and Asia, used by populations to access information on key sectors for instance; education, health, housing, employment, transport, and markets. Mobile phones also enable cashless mobile money transfers, that would otherwise be difficult or impossible (Chowdhury,Negassa and Torero 2005;Jensen 2007 andBhavnani et al, 2008;Aker and Mbiti, 2010;Sekabira, Bonabana and Asingwire 2012;Hoddinott, Rosegrant and Torero, 2013). ...
In the past two decades, since around 1995, mobile phone (MP) technologies have been widely adopted in developing countries – with the highest penetration rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, to levels of about 89% for adults. Previous research has shown MP use to enhance market access through information exchange and market price integration – availing timely updates on prices of inputs and outputs. Various applications of MP technologies, for instance mobile money (MM) services, where money is transferred electronically between the sender and the receiver using mobile phones, have also cropped up and are widely predicted to have life-enhancing effects for rural households. More specifically, the available literature has shown that MM services can contribute to welfare gains in smallholder farm households via several pathways. One important pathway for MM-related welfare gains are higher remittances received by MM users from relatives and friends.
However, the impact of MP use and many of its key applications, like MM services, on several smallholder welfare aspects has barely been investigated. In particular, we are not aware of any studies that have analyzed the effects of MP use on gender equality and nutrition – two welfare dimensions that are of particular importance in the context of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that aim at ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition, as well as attaining gender equality and women empowerment. Furthermore, there is yet no study examining the role of MM services and its several impact pathways on household welfare. These are significant gaps in the literature given that mobile phone technologies are so widely adopted among rural and urban households in the developing world. The impacts of MP technologies are predicted to be higher in developing countries than in the developed world,
iii
given that the infrastructure for other communication technologies and related services is much less developed in the developing world.
We address these research gaps by using panel data from smallholder farm households in Uganda. Specifically, we examine the impact of MP use on household incomes, gender equality, and nutrition. Furthermore, the impact of MM services on household welfare and impact pathways are examined, especially focusing on agricultural marketing and off-farm economic activities.
Using panel regression models, we find that MP use has positive influence on household income, gender equality, and dietary diversity. Gender-disaggregated data analysis shows that female MP use bears stronger influences on household incomes, gender equality, and nutrition than male MP use. Using simultaneous equations, we establish that female MP use’s positive nutrition effects are channeled through increased incomes and gender equality. These effects are due to lower transaction costs and better access to information through MP use.
Furthermore, regression models show that the adoption of MM technology has contributed to higher household incomes and consumption levels. Off-farm income gains are also identified to be an important pathway through which MM services enhance household income, even when excluding remittances from the calculation of off-farm income. Other off-farm income sources include small businesses in trade (like retail shops, sale of forest products), transport (like motor cycle riding services for transportation of goods or humans), and handicrafts (like brick laying, mats making, clothes sewing, and carpentry services). These economic activities benefit from novel savings and money transfer opportunities through MM services. In terms of agricultural marketing, MM users sell a larger proportion of their coffee as shelled beans (a high value form
iv
of coffee, sold after processing) to buyers in high-value markets, instead of selling to local traders immediately after harvest. MM services also help to reduce cash constraints and facilitate quick and reliable transactions with buyers from outside local regions.
We conclude that the use of MP technologies contributes to a broader inclusive and comprehensive rural development and poverty reduction, encompassing improved household income, food security, and gender equality. We also conclude that MM services can contribute to rural development through various important pathways – especially enhancing volumes of off-farm incomes earned by rural households. The observed adoption patterns suggest that MM services are socially inclusive. In terms of policy recommendations, we conclude that gender-sensitive dissemination policies for mobile phones and related technologies could broaden household income and nutrition welfare effects.
... Telecom providers with large investments in physical infrastructure are able to take greater advantage of regulatory structures and maximize their revenues, creating unfair competition between voice communication (landline or mobile) and Internet companies. VoIP, which can be viewed as an added-value service rather than a voice communication service (Cohen et al., 2005), allows telecommunications providers to include it in the costs of infrastructure development (Jussawalla, 1999;Pathak, 2005) and to use the technology to reduce costs without transferring any cost savings to the customer. Internet companies, on the other hand, do not fall within the purview of telecom regulations and are, thus, unable to take advantage of the ways in which voice communication costs and prices are determined. ...
This manuscript discusses a theoretical competitive scenario for telecommunications services, in particular voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), and finds that the economic benefits of the current technological convergence are based on three main factors: technological advances and updates; regulation failures related to technological complexity; and consumer inability to exploit the benefits of convergence. This study begins by giving the background to voice communication in the telecommunications sector and the misunderstanding of the competitive boundaries between technologies, service providers, and usage applications generated in an unregulated sector. Second, the kinds of regulation that organizes the development and pricing of integrated or bundled services are briefly discussed and presented. Third, theoretical analysis of the competitive environment is interpreted in terms of the three factors: technological advances, regulation failure, and consumer knowledge of convergence. Results derived from these factors are presented in the context of VoIP services. Finally, the work concludes by outlining the implications for regulatory reform and the impact on competitive behavior, and describes possibilities for the future management of the technology sector.
... Higher levels of exports, conversely, speak to the advanced development of the communications industries and indicate the ability to more effectively sell services abroad. Jussawalla (1999) reports that East Asian countries are prone to developing ICTs for export. However, Fairlee (2007, 2010) do not find trade openness to be statistically significant with Internet penetration. ...
This article analyzes the state of Internet penetration across the developing world. We examine a variety of socioeconomic, human capital, and media and technology-related measures as they relate to Internet adoption. Results demonstrate that the Internet is not only dependent on economic variables such as spendable income, costs and poverty, but also literacy, share of urban population; population growth, and old and new telecommunication measures such as telephone subscriptions, broadband subscriptions and related costs, computer and mobile phone ownership, number of telecommunication secured lines and bits generated; trade matters such as communication services exports; and political environment issues such as political and democratic openness, economic freedom and freedom of the press. Contrary to earlier research, GDP and English language are not statistically significant variables. Our findings on telecommunication industry competition and literacy run contrary to many earlier studies that find these variables to be unrelated to the Internet.
... Under such circumstances, the number of firm integrations in the converged market has grown as integration provides existing firms with easy and effective access to new target markets, and synergistic gains through the better utilization of resources and strengths. In the same context,[34]stresses that the business convergence between broadcasting and telecommunication is inevitable. This research, therefore, posits the following as hypothesis 1. ...
This research mainly focuses on mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within the broadcasting and telecommunication industries in Korea, and examines the stock market reaction around the M&A announcement day. The abnormal change in stock price is estimated using the event-study methodology. We, in contradiction to the previous works asserting the M&As' negative effect, conclude that the M&As in these industries have a positive impact on the stock market. In addition, unrelated M&As also have a positive stock market reaction similar to related M&As, and there is no meaningful difference between M&As acquiring content firms and M&As not acquiring them.
... Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) (Colecchia and Schreyer 2002), Britain (Dolton and Makepeace 2004), and Asia (Jussawalla 1999), to determine the impact of the ICT on economic growth. ...
In recent years, progress in information and communication technology (ICT) has caused many structural changes such as the reorganization of economics, globalization, and trade extension, which leads to capital flows and enhancing information availability. Moreover, ICT plays a significant role in development of each economic sector, especially during liberalization process. Economists predict that economic growth is driven by investments in ICT. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of ICT on economic growth in Tunisia. The results indicate that there is a positive relationship between the growth rate of GDP and the index of ICT use (as measured by the number of user mobile and fixed phone lines in Tunisia).
... untries are widespread, the growth pattern remains uneven, especially among the least developed countries. This has led to the issue of the digital divide 4 , which from the perspectives of the least developed nations, shows that differences in access to ICT are even more pronounced than national income inequalities across the world (Pohjola 2003)., 1999 ) in Simmons (2000) According to the 2001 report published in the Asia and Pacific Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Telecommunication Development 6 , the digital divide in terms of having access to ICTs is very apparent between the developed and developing countries (Table 1.1). For example, the report revealed that out of 100 ...
... No corrente mercado de telecomunicações, dinâmico e agressivo, competidores diferentes encaram um campo de batalha desigual, onde provedores de telecomunicações com altos investimentos em infraestrutura física são capazes de tirar vantagem das estruturas de regulação maximizando sua receita e criando uma competição injusta entre empresas de comunicação de voz (fixa ou móvel) e internet. O VOIP, visto como um serviço de valor agregado e não um serviço de comunicação de voz (COHEN; MATTILA; SOUTHWOOD, 2005), permite a provedores de telecom incluir em seus custos de infraestrutura o desenvolvimento (JUSSAWALLA, 1999;PATHAK, 2005) e o uso de tecnologias, para reduzir custos sem transferir nenhuma economia destes para os consumidores. Em outra visão, empresas de internet não estão ligadas com as definições das regulações de telecomunicações, tornando-se prontas para tirar vantagem dos competidores, que possuem seus custos de comunicação de voz e preços determinados. ...
Technological convergence allowed for the carrying out of communication services, based on different technologies, assuring the same use for users and better benefits for providers. This way, both entrepreneurial and residential consumers had an increase in their choice for joint services as well as for service providers. The existing regulation does not analyze the service as a result, but as a product or technology to be authorized. Based on the literature of utilization and behavior of the consumer, this article describes and discusses a strategy of marketing used by communication opoerators, who take advantage from the inefficiency of the regulation and legislation. A theoritical analysis of the competitive environment and use of technology points out that the economic benefits from technological convergence go on due to four factors: technological progress, regulation failures, technological complexity, and lack of skill for exploring convergence benefits. The misuse of these services by telecommunication providers, given the technological convergence and integration of systems in this sector, are specifically discussed in the context of voice communication services at a long distance, utilizing VOIP, establishing proposals for defining the better use of technology which may assure a fair competitiveness for the market.
... Malaysia was among the first countries in the region to privatise its government held telephone monopoly (Jabatan Tekom Malaysia) (Jussawalla, 1999) and as a result the Malaysian telecommunications sector has become one of the most competitive in the world (Mesher and Zajac, 1997). This has resulted in affordable access for many citizens. ...
This article reports the findings of research conducted within Malaysia Borneo. Using field interviews with small tourism enterprises (STEs) the study explored the use of the Internet by STEs, specifically, the authors sought to identify how STEs exploit the information, communication, and transactions spaces created by the Internet. This study improves knowledge on how small enterprises, specifically small tourism enterprises use and overcome typical hurdles to adopting the Internet. In contrast to previous studies in developing countries, the results show that amongst participants there is a level of Internet maturity and many enterprises view its use as the norm. Although quite a specific sample of small enterprises have been selected for this article, this article identifies lessons that may be applied to STEs generally in developing countries. Some strategies to assist STEs in developing countries to implement and maintain a web presence are suggested.
... The role of trade policy is important. For example, Jussawalla [13] claims that East-Asian nations fostered ICT production through openness and export-oriented investments. Both exports and imports may offer a channel for increased adoption and diffusion of ICT. ...
Using data from developing countries, this paper examines the links between ICT diffusion and per capita income, trade and financial indicators, education, and freedom indicators. Internet hosts, Internet users, personal computers and mobile phones represent indicators of ICT. The Gompertz model of technology diffusion is used to study ICT dissemination. The results show that income and government trade policies influence ICT diffusion. However, freedom indices may or may not affect ICT diffusion. Moreover, only personal computers and Internet hosts seem to have a positive association with income. Contrary to expectations, ICT diffusion is not associated with education.
... Furthermore, concentrating on other frameworks, such as the OECD, India, China or developing nations, the work carried out by Jussawalla (1999), Bassanini et al. (2000), Colecchia and Schreyer (2002), Wong (2002), Meng and Li (2002), Vu (2005, 2007) and Sridhar and Sridhar (2007) are of particular importance. ...
This study analyzes the influence of the introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on economic growth
and human development in the countries that make up the European Union 27. The remarkable interest that the European Commission
has shown in the Information Society (IS) and the introduction of ICT inspired us to analyze to what extent ICT had established
themselves in these countries. More specifically, countries are grouped in accordance with some of the main IS indicators
published by Eurostat to ascertain whether or not there are different groups of countries with different levels of development
and where ICT have been implemented to different degrees. We determine whether they have achieved different levels of economic
and human development. This enables us to confirm (or reject) the main theories that suggest ICT have a strong influence on
economic and human development. Results show the existence of four clearly distinct groups of countries which register significant
differences.
JELC10–O19–O3–O52
... Cable operators regard the digital transition as an opportunity to change itself from traditional TV broadcasters to comprehensive information service providers in the ongoing era of network convergence (Collins, 1998). However they have a long way to go, as China's broadcasting industry has been accustomed to the planned economy rather than making profits in the market, while telecom operators hold a strong position in the telecommunications market through marketoriented reforms started in late 1990s (Jussawalla, 1999;Mueller & Lovelock, 2000). Furthermore, China's cable operators, which are small and scattered in fragmented local markets, face existing or potential competition from two national telecom operators, which possess the advantage of economies of scope and scale. ...
This paper explores the impact of policies made by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and TV on China's transition to digital TV. The method of stakeholder analysis is used to present a theoretical study on the digital transition, with a quantitative model analyzing the welfare change of three segments of consumers. A simultaneous-equation model is used to study the characteristics of the demand and supply of digital TV in China. It is argued that the policy of uniform transition that ignores coordination among stakeholders does harm to consumers’ benefits, and the healthy and sustainable development of China's cable digital TV industry. In an introductory phase of digital TV, educating consumers with convenient and pleasing experience is essential, and restructuring cable operators in a market-oriented way is also critical for developing countries like China.
... The role of trade policy is important. For example, Jussawalla (1999) claims that East Asian nations fostered ICT production through openness and export-oriented investments. Both exports and imports may offer a channel for increased adoption and diffusion of ICT. ...
There can not be two opinions on the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for economic development. However, real disparities exist in access to and use of ICT across countries. The digital divide is a complicated matter of varying levels of access, basic usage, and applications of ICT among countries and peoples. Using the Gompertz Technology Diffusion model, this paper attempts to measure the contribution of factors such as affordability, knowledge, infrastructure, human capital, trade openness, and economic and social environment in the technology diffusion process, specially in the case of information-poor countries.
... The role of trade policy is important. For example, Jussawalla (1999) claims that East Asian nations fostered ICT production through openness and export-oriented investments. Both exports and imports may offer a channel for increased adoption and diffusion of ICT. ...
Using data from developing countries, this paper explores the nature and direction of the links between ICT diffusion and per capita income, trade and financial indicators, education, and freedom indicators. Internet hosts, Internet users, personal computers and mobile phones represent indicators of ICT. The Gompertz model of technology diffusion is used to study ICT dissemination. The results show that income and government trade policies influence ICT diffusion. Depending on the ICT indicator, freedom indices may or may not affect ICT diffusion. Moreover, only personal computers and Internet hosts seem to have a positive influence on income. Contrary to expectations, ICT diffusion does not seem to enhance education.
In 2011, the pace in the development of information and communication technology (ICT) seemed to peak, but the convergence phenomenon can still be described as a first-world trend.
The information economy discourse and the transformation of the ways in which we work, network, socialise and experience leisure delineates knowledge and information as a new form of social and economic capital that has re-configured and re-structured the workings of the global economy. It propounds a seismic shift and a structural re-shaping of the global market place, emphasising the exchange and circulation of knowledge and information and the incumbent transformations and complex production networks and communication practices they enable. These discourses often portend immense and overarching economic and social changes between and within developed and developing nations. These meta-narratives are equally located through the discourses of paradigm shifts where technological advancements in information and communication technologies (ICTs) are seen as an agency for change as well as a platform for opportunities, vulnerabilities and exploitations between economies, cultures and societies. This paper provides an overview of the information/knowledge economy discourse and evaluates the constraints and challenges posed by the information economy.
New information and communication technologies (ICTs), it is argued is transformative, and governments all over the world have sought to incorporate it into their development desideratum. It is clear that ICTs have transformed social, economic, and political practices and this certainly is true for Southeast Asia. In the context of Southeast Asia, it is particularly salient for it provided avenues for new political movements and expressions in the face of predominantly authoritarian regimes. Via the new ICTs, people were able to communicate freely and oppositional forces could be readily mobilized. This assertion of political rights threatened the status quo and the ruling political elites' hold on power. This was compounded by a crisis in public confidence as Southeast Asian economies found themselves caught in the maelstrom of a financial crisis precipitated by the loss of investment confidence and crony capitalism. As the crisis intensified and spread, its political fallout became clear. Governments have to accommodate and make way for social, economic, and political changes. In this chapter, the author seeks to examine.
This article examines the relevance of the reasoning in various theses concerning the digital divide, by focusing on their underlying hypotheses. Four main versions of the digital divide are identified in the economic literature. The first explores economic and social inequalities related to access to equipment and infrastructures. The second imputes digital divides to use of ICTs by individuals and social groups. The third concerns the efficiency of use: for the same level of equipment, certain countries or individuals enhance their performance faster than others. The fourth definition relates more to the modalities of learning in a knowledge-based economy. As soon as information and knowledge become abundant, ICTs may be at the origin of many inequalities related to changes in learning processes and hence to performance. The author links up the different facets of these digital divides in a general model based on the logistic curve.
This book is devoted to a theoretical conceptualization of the e-society. The e-society is a society where e-technologies are so fully integrated into the fabrics of the society that their use no longer entails major household decisions. It is a multi-dimensional phenomenon reflected in the mindsets and lifestyles of the people. Four key domains of an e-society, that is, e-government, e-commerce, e-working and e-networking, are systematically addressed. Then, a conceptual framework on the Stages of E-development is proposed to allow readers to have a better understanding of the current stage of e-development in their societies, and to facilitate policy-makers to make better decisions in supporting the emergence of e-societies.
Convergence is a complex phenomenon which involves multiple economic layers of regulatory bodies, industries, firms and users, and poses both challenges and opportunities for all of them. Although research on convergence has recently grown, there is little research which reviews the studies of convergence in the past and present, and critically discusses the development of convergence research. To fill this gap, this paper examines the current status of convergence research by use of a library meta-search engine. The analysis of the articles retrieved offers a series of snapshots regarding present studies on digital convergence in terms of the type of convergence dealt with, the level of analysis, and so on. The analysis also shows that most research by now is theoretically oriented at the macro level (i.e. regulatory and industrial), and suggests that more empirical research from the micro perspective (i.e. firms and users) is required.
This book examines how information systems research and education can play a major role in contributing to solutions to the Societal Grand Challenges formulated in “The Millennium Project” (millenium-project.org). Individual chapters focus on specific challenges, review existing approaches and contributions towards solutions in information systems research and outline a research agenda for these challenges. The topics considered in this volume range from climate change, population growth, global ICT availability, breakthroughs in science and technology and energy demand to ethical decision-making, policymaking, gender status and transnational crime prevention. It is the first book to present ideas on how the Information Systems discipline can contribute to the solution on this wide spectrum of grand societal challenges.
The past few decades have witnessed a growth in the use of information communication
technology (ICT) infrastructure as a catalyst for development in many countries. The growth in
the worldwide ICT has resulted in globalization, enabling integration of financial markets
among different countries in small geographical regions. This has led to intra-regional
cooperation and trade. Trade is one of the cornerstones of economic development. It creates a
larger regional economy from small and unequal national economies thereby promoting growth
and sustainable development. The importance of intra-regional trade is to stimulate production
capacity and competitiveness through exposing the domestic industries to intra-regional
competition. This facilitates the regions’ ability to compete in international markets.
In Africa, global and intra-regional trade has declined since 1970. In this study, the trend
analysis of trade flows in Africa was explored. The analysis implies that the low level of trade
was influenced by colonial legacy and that the lack of adequate ICT infrastructure is also one of
the strong opposing factors to intra-African trade flows
This paper presents the results of a study of property development companies in Malaysia on their internet business strategy. Data was collected from various real estate related companies' web sites. The services and information offered in these web sites are discussed and used to describe the growth of internet usage in these real estate businesses. Most of the real estate businesses in Malaysia are still in the infancy stage of using the internet as a tool in business. However, some of these companies do have adequate information regarding their internet business strategy which would improve their business competitiveness.
This paper presents the results of a study of property development companies in Malaysia on their internet business strategy. Data was collected from various real estate related companies’ web sites. The services and information offered in these web sites are discussed and used to describe the growth of internet usage in these real estate businesses. Most of the real estate businesses in Malaysia are still in the infancy stage of using the internet as a tool in business. However, some of these companies do have adequate information regarding their internet business strategy which would improve their business competitiveness.
Focusing on institutional explanations we try to apprehend the digital divide phenomena. We show that competition measured by mobile phone number of operators is positively and significantly correlated to mobile phone diffusion. We always show that other institutional factors like (independent) regulation, privatization (taken twice) and the sequence of reforms had played a major role in the mobile phone diffusion. Particularly we find that reform sequency have an elevated coefficient demonstrating the powerful role played by this action to give a response to the digital divide phenomena particularly in the telephony field.
Information and communication technology (ICT) attracts more and more attention as the diffusion of Internet grows rapidly. This study intends to classify ICT developments by using a different approach: a clustering technique to classify the economies with only two essential variables, namely the number of Internet subscribers and gross domestic product. This study performs a comparative analysis for 121 economies covering the period from 1999 to 2007. Then, this study validates classification results against the research results in previous studies and finds the proposed approach more effective. The classification results help to explain the global ICT developments.
Most research about comparative Internet policy literature has been devoted to the discussion regarding copyright protection and piracy, freedom of speech, censorship, encryption, and impacts on national sovereignty as well as regulatory bodies. In this study, I investigate the influence of national culture characteristics on the stipulation and implementation of regulatory models in the Greater China Region, which includes three Chinese majority societies, China, Hong-Kong SAR, and Taiwan. Because of their unique cultural and political characteristics, these three societies present remarkable cases to examine the effects of political–cultural dynamics on the making of Internet regulations.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a study of the top listed property companies in Asia based on capital market value on internet business strategy, and to examine the relationship between top companies and the internet business strategy index.
Design/methodology/approach
Data for the research were collected from the top 30 property companies in Asia through their web sites. The services and information offered in these web sites are discussed and used to describe the growth of internet usage in the real estate business.
Findings
From the findings, most companies in Asia realised the importance of the internet as a marketing tool. This has been proved from the good average score of the internet business strategy attributes. The results indicated that top property companies in Asia implemented good internet business strategy.
Research limitations
The research is based on a study from the top 30 companies in Asia based on market capital values as at 30 June 2009. Only three countries were selected in this study: Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Originality/value
This paper examines the practice of property companies in Asia of using the internet as a marketing tool in property business in order to enhance the marketing strategy in this borderless world. The findings provided some insight and guidelines for the industry as well as academics on the use of information and communication technology in the property business.
Use of information to the discretion of the prediction of economic growth driven by investments in the Information and Communication Technology(ICT). This paper discuss on the use of ICT that contributes to the economic growth and how it being measured. Prediction analysis resulting to empirical studies and research had been carried out between ICT and economic growth found there is both mixed results depending on the methodology of the research engaged and geographical landscape or situation that should be considered. The analysis of estimates reveal a significant impact on economic growth of investments in ICT towards specific region implies whereby countries seek to enhance their economic growth, they need to implement specific policies that facilitate investment in ICT. A proposed future research has been made in this paper that could help to ensure the role and impact of ICT to spur the economy growth with the continuing trend that is growing is also given.
The literature on innovative regions has stressed the role of spatial clustering in the endogenous formation, accumulation, and sharing of knowledge in technology hubs in advanced countries. Little has been written, however, on how spatial clusters may also affect technological dynamics in developing countries where external actors, such as multinational corporations (MNCs), are the main source of new technology. Drawing on studies of innovative regions and technology transfers, we analyzed the interactive patterns between MNCs and local technology actors in China's leading information communication technology (ICT) service cluster in Zhongguancun, Beijing. We found that the relationship between MNCs and local firms is hierarchical, but also interdependent and evolutionary. Local firms‘ collaboration with MNCs provides them with vital technological and organizational training, which the local firms use strategically to develop their market networks and innovative capacity in the home market. The learning capacity of local firms is vastly improved by the presence of other related enterprises, the research and development facilities, and a developmental state in a market-oriented spatial cluster.
The globalisation of innovation has become a major issue in the discourses of economic development. There is a view that unfettered market forces will promote greater and better developmental outcomes and for this to happen, the state must play a minimalist role. There is the other view that argues that the state can play 'catalytic' roles and mediate the forces of globalisation to engender outcomes congruent to its aspirations. In this paper, we look at the experiences of one Asian state, Malaysia. The paper will examine the historical evolution of technology policies in Malaysia. It argues that the Malaysian state has been an active change agent and has sought to realise its vision of becoming a democratic, modern and 'developed society' via its latest technology flagship, the Multimedia Supercorridor (MSC). The paper argues that, despite its resoluteness and investment in the project, the Malaysian state is unlikely to succeed in producing its high tech utopia. Rooted in a highly technocratic and managerial context, the Malaysian vision fails to account for the prevailing institutional forces impacting on, and impeding transformation in Malaysia.
Based on international evidence, this study confirms that telecommunications liberalization is conducive to higher efficiency, contributing to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) growth. Assessment of liberalization benefits on sector performance is based on an indicator encompassing three key factors: (i) competition in fixed and mobile networks; (ii) openness to foreign ownership; and (iii) pro-competitive regulation. Notwithstanding recent progress, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) telecommunications markets remain less open to competition than elsewhere in the developing world: competition is hindered, private participation is scarce and foreign ownership is most severely constrained, while regulatory regimes do not support fair competition.
Are the privatization and market competition models resulting in the leveling of the supply-side playing field, and are they demand driven as expected? Quantitative indicators of network expansion and efficiency provide a partial and inconclusive picture. Instead, an evolutionary property rights framework is favored. Examined in detail are the institutional environments that lead to particular types of property rights which in turn affect network expansion and efficiency. The article offers two conclusions: (a) introducing market competition is slow, messy and difficult to manage but, where present, it is better for growth than privatization alone, and (b) network expansion and efficiency are most noticeable where adequate property rights and enforcement mechanisms are in place. It also conjectures that the "East Asia Model" toward network expansion may not be easily generalizable.
This paper examines the extent to which financial development and financial structure may explain cross-country diffusion of information communication technology (ICT). Using panel data for 76 emerging and advanced countries for the period 1990–2003, it finds that credit and stock market development tends to foster ICT diffusion, but financial structure does not appear to have any significant relationship with it. The conclusions, which are consistent with what theory might predict, highlight the role of financial development in the market for knowledge-based products. The finding that financial development is an important determinant of ICT diffusion implies that countries with underdeveloped financial markets may sink even further to the information-poor and noncommunicating side of the global digital divide.
The impact of economic freedom and income inequality on Digital Access Index (DAI) is examined using data from 118 countries. Two variables 'openness of the economy' and the 'extent of domestic credit to private sector' are used as controlled variables. Regression analysis shows that economic freedom, openness of the economy and the extent of domestic credit to the private sector have a positive impact on DAI. Furthermore, greater income inequality has a significant negative relationship with DAI. However, when countries are divided into high income, middle income and low income groups, the results are different. For low income countries, openness of the economy and the extent of domestic credit to the private sector are the only variables that are significantly positively related to DAI. In high income and middle income countries, all variables are significant with the exception of 'openness of the economy'. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of the results for IT strategists, policymakers and international development agencies.
Focusing on institutional explanations we try to apprehend the digital divide phenomena. We show that competition measured by mobile phone number of operators is positively and significantly correlated to mobile phone diffusion. We always show that other institutional factors like (independent) regulation, privatization (taken twice) and the sequence of reforms had played a major role in the mobile phone diffusion. Particularly we find that reform sequency have an elevated coefficient demonstrating the powerful role played by this action to give a response to the digital divide phenomena particularly in the telephony field.
Thesis (PhD (School of Public Management and Planning ))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. This study comprises a discursive analysis of the underlying assumptions, rhetorical devices and the latent agendas masked within: (i) the burgeoning international ICT, poverty and development literature; (ii) the policy agendas of the major players in international development; and (iii) the ICT, poverty and development discourse of the post-apartheid South African government. The aim of the study is to move beyond the current enthusiasm for derivative description and technological determinism, and to introduce a deeper, more balanced understanding of the relationship between ICT, poverty and development.
For sometime there has been a push for developing countries to adopt information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a pathway to economic development. However, to date, the widespread adoption and use of ICTs in these countries has been sluggish. This is especially true amongst small enterprises, which play a major economic role in developing countries. In the context of developed countries a number of benefits have been linked with the use of the ICTs amongst large, medium, and small tourism enterprises (STEs). This suggests that STEs in developing nations can also derive some benefit from the use of ICTs. However, entrepreneurs in developing countries are hindered by the underlying environmental limitations that characterise these countries (such as the inadequate and unreliable infrastructure, high cost of ICTs, and unstable political environment). This suggests that a tool for STEs that allows them to assess their business environment by reflecting inwards and outwards of the business to make informed decisions on e-commerce would be of use. The purpose of this thesis was to develop an e-readiness framework for STEs in developing countries. The threshold of twenty employees was used to classify businesses as ‘small’. In developing the framework, the intention was to take into account the specific characteristics of small businesses in developing countries. The study was carried out across two major phases. Phase One involved an online focus group with a panel of experts. The purpose of this phase was to take the framework that was developed based on a literature review and present it to a group of experts and use their comments to refine it. After making changes to the framework the researcher set out to refine it further using an investigation of actual STEs in two developing countries. In total twenty-six tourism operators participated in the study. In addition to discussions with the tourism operators this phase also involved examining their online activities, observations, and an investigation of the country e-commerce environment. The final framework, produced as a result of thorough literature review and two data collection phases, has been placed through rigour at the conceptual design stage by academics and at the applied level with actual by STEs. The resultant framework identifies the most relevant determinants of e-readiness and identifies how STEs may exploit e-commerce.
The position of Government Chief Information Officer (GCIO) has been adopted by many developed countries seeking to leverage technology within the management of public administration. The position calls for an operational executive who can make important strategic decisions that impact public agency ICT. However, whereas ICT programs have attracted more attention in developing countries, very little research has been done to define the GCIO's responsibilities and how to increase their contribution to ICT initiatives. In this paper a comparative analysis of developed and developing countries is undertaken in order to identify four major categories of solutions to how the GCIO's leadership in developing countries can be enhanced. The four categories are: formal authority over their resource allocation in relationship to high-level leadership, the competences for cross-boundary leadership, the abilities to sustain support from staff and managers, and the development of the CIO system in the private sector. These findings can give guidance to management and GCIOs to enhance the outcome of their contributions to organizations; and as a result increase efficiency and effectiveness of government ICT projects.
The future of the telecoms industry in China is reported. The Chinese telecoms market is one of the most attractive in the world in terms of its enormous size and still untapped potential. The implications of investing significant amounts of capital in a country where the political ideology means that a foreign corporation cannot exercise control or ownership over its investment are enormous. The history of Chinese telecoms is recalled. Many analyses of the future growth of telecoms in China predict a rapid, but essentially teleological increase in demand for telecoms over the coming years. The consequences of growing economic and political divergence between provinces, which leads to increasing local autonomy and eventually break-up of China as a single nation are examined.
The combination of new and advancing communication technologies and changing regulatory philosophies make this an opportune time to seriously examine once again the economics of media industries and the implications of a better understanding of media economics for communication policy. Many of the issues that will have to be addressed by economists and policymakers in the future relate to the development of multimedia firms and multimedia services. This article briefly discusses the historical relationship between communication policy and the economic study of media industries, and identifies multimedia-related policy questions that will have to be addressed with the tools of economic analysis in the future. The articles that follow in this volume are then discussed with respect to these policy questions.
The enabling power of the internet. ¹elecommunications: A Bridge to the 21st century
- M Jussawalla
Jussawalla, M. (1996). The enabling power of the internet. ¹elecommunications: A Bridge to the 21st century. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Chancery House Can CEO Ollila keep the cellular superstar #ying high? Business =eek
- Asia Paci
Asia Paci"c Telecommunity (APT) (1997). >earbook 1997. Chancery House, Sutton, UK: ICOM. Baker, S. (1998). Can CEO Ollila keep the cellular superstar #ying high? Business =eek, August 10.
The Asian economic crisis and the information revolution
- Wilson E J Iii
Wilson E.J. III 1998. The Asian economic crisis and the information revolution. Intermedia, 26 (3).
Thinking Big. =ired The power of global communication Communication and trade: Essays in honor of Meheroo Jussawalla
- J Greenwald
- K Grewlich
Greenwald, J. (1997). Thinking Big. =ired, August. Grewlich, K. (1998). The power of global communication. In D. Lamberton (Ed.), Communication and trade: Essays in honor of Meheroo Jussawalla. New York: Hampton Press.
Future scenarios for the Chinese telecom market. ¹elecommunications, October China speeds IT development. I ways Year End Issue
- S Learmount
- B Remmer
Learmount, S., & Remmer, B. (1997). Future scenarios for the Chinese telecom market. ¹elecommunications, October. Liu Xin Kui (1996). China speeds IT development. I ways Year End Issue. M. Jussawalla / Telecommunications Policy 23 (1999) 217}234
Malaysia: ¹he way forward (vision 2020) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS)
- M Mohamad
Mohamad, M. (1991). Malaysia: ¹he way forward (vision 2020). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS).
Microsoft to buy internet "rm webTV
- M Groves
Groves, M. (1997). Microsoft to buy internet "rm webTV. ¸os Angeles ¹imes, 7 April.
Siemens-Nixdorf to expand S'pore plant. Business ¹imes
- R Chellam
Chellam, R. (1997). Siemens-Nixdorf to expand S'pore plant. Business ¹imes, 10 November.
Report on Malaysia Asian Communications
- N Inglebrecht
Inglebrecht, N. (1997). Report on Malaysia. Asian Communications, April. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (1998). =orld ¹elecommunications Report 1998. Geneva: International Telecommunication Union.
Mobile mayhem. Forbes Network innovations in the US and their impact on corporate structure, regulation and global markets. Presentation to the East}West Center Conference on Globalization of Telecommunications Scheme afoot to fortify electronics &backbone
- R C Morais
- E B Noam
Morais, R. C. (1998). Mobile mayhem. Forbes, July 6. Noam, E. (1998). Network innovations in the US and their impact on corporate structure, regulation and global markets. Presentation to the East}West Center Conference on Globalization of Telecommunications. Honolulu, January. Porter, B. (1997). Scheme afoot to fortify electronics &backbone'. South China Morning Post, 28 November.
Island at the cross roads
- A Tanzer
Tanzer, A. (1998). Island at the cross roads. Forbes, June.
Network innovations in the US and their impact on corporate structure, regulation and global markets. Presentation to the East}West Center Conference on Globalization of Telecommunications
- E Noam
Noam, E. (1998). Network innovations in the US and their impact on corporate structure, regulation and global markets.
Presentation to the East}West Center Conference on Globalization of Telecommunications. Honolulu, January.
Scheme afoot to fortify electronics &backbone'. South China Morning Post
- B Porter
Porter, B. (1997). Scheme afoot to fortify electronics &backbone'. South China Morning Post, 28 November.
Can CEO Ollila keep the cellular superstar #ying high? Business =eek
- S Baker
Baker, S. (1998). Can CEO Ollila keep the cellular superstar #ying high? Business =eek, August 10.
The power of global communication Communication and trade: Essays in honor of Meheroo Jussawalla
- K Grewlich
Grewlich, K. (1998). The power of global communication. In D. Lamberton (Ed.), Communication and trade: Essays in
honor of Meheroo Jussawalla. New York: Hampton Press.
China speeds IT development. I ways Year End Issue
- Kui Liu Xin
Liu Xin Kui (1996). China speeds IT development. I ways Year End Issue.